Developing apparatus for photographic plates.



PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

J. D. LYON. DEVELOPING APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PLATES APPLIGATION FILED OCT. 31, 1904.

2 SEEBTSSHEET 1.

Inventor Wz'bzesses:

No. 797,445. PATBNTED AUG. 15, 1905. J. LYON. DEVELOPING APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PLATES.

AIPLIOATION FILED OUT. 31,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DEVELOPING APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PLATES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed October 31, 1904. Serial No. 230,834.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J nssn D. LYON, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Penn sylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Developing Apparatusfor Photographic Plates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming part of the specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved developing apparatus for photographic plates. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof, showing an envelop-surrounded plate in position for introduction into the machine. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view illustrating the preliminary insertion of the envelop. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the apparatus, the slides constituting the top having been removed. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional View on the line V V of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail View similar to Fig. 2, showing the plate in the operation of entering the tank. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing the application of the invention to a developing apparatus provided with an interior plate-manipulating receiver.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for developing photographic plates or negatives independent of a dark room; and it consistsof an inclosing box or receptacle constituting a tank adapted to contain the developing fluid and provided with means by which the plates may be introduced singly into the interior. Light proof adjustable slides are provided adapted to cooperate with an envelop-inclosed plate, so as to entirely exclude the light, protecting the plate during the inserting operation, with means for separating the plates, together with other details of construction, as shall be more fully hereinafter set forth.

Referring now to the drawings, 2 represents the body portion of the tank adapted to contain the developing fluid, which may be drawn off through a valve-controlled opening 3 at the bottom portion, which is preferably a threeway valve having a double terminal for use in either filling or emptying the tank. The tank is provided at each side with slideways or guides 4, arranged to receive the edges of the plates and to hold them apart from each other, but sufficiently close together to practically utilize the entire interior area. Y Upon the bottom of the tank is placed a layer 5 of rubber, felt, or other suitable cushioning material, adapted to provide a soft bearing for the edges of the plates, the tank being preferably composed of thin sheet metal, although it may, if desired, be made of wood or other suitable material, as molded rubber, fiber, &c.

Slidingly mounted upon the top of the tank between inclosing flanges or guides 6 are the covers 7 8, one being slidingly mounted upon the other, as shown, and both covers being arranged to slide longitudinally, either together or independently of each other, along the full length of the apparatus. The under one of such covers rests upon a strip 9 of soft bearing material, as rubber or other suitable substance, adapted to provide a cushion and to make a binding fit with the cover-slides 7 and 8, so that when inserted they fit snugly within their slidcways formed by such bearings 9 and the flanges 6. I preferably also provide end bearings 10 of the same kind mounted upon any suitable supporting flange or bracket, preferably extending outwardly beyond the ends of the tank, so as to fully utilize the interior cavity.

For the purpose of insuring a tight lit the slides or covers 7 8 are preferably slightly tapered,as shown in Fig. 2, so that when drawn apart, as in Fig. 6, they will be comparatively free to move, but when adjusted to the closing position (shown in Fig. 2,) or when entirely closed, if it is desired to compactly pack the device, they will make a snug tight fit in their slideways, positively excluding the light and also making a fluid-tight joint, as will be readily understood. The upper one of such slides 8 is provided with an opening 11 and with an inner upwardly-extending shell 12 and a surrounding outer upwardly-extending shell 13. The purpose of these shells is to receive a photographic plate 14 within the inner shell 12 and its surrounding envelop 15 (incasing the plate) between the outer walls of shell 12 and inner walls of shell 18. The object of this construction is that the plate and its inclosing envelop, which is in all essential respects similar to the plate and envelop shown and described in my copending application for photographic plate-holders, (filed July 16, 1904:, bearing the Serial No. 216,806,) may make a light-proof interfitting engagement with the inner and outer shells before the slides 7 and 8 are drawn apart for the purpose of dropping the plate into the tank. This latter operation is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, it being understood that the envelop 15, closed at its upper end, is not withdrawn until the plate has been dropped and either the lower slide 7 projected underneath opening 11 or slide 8 is extended over the end of slide 7. In either case the same result would be accomplishedto wit, to cutoff the light. This operation is repeated, the slides being advanced step by step along the full length of the tank until it has been filled or until as many plates as desired have been inserted.

It is obvious that the available interior space of the tank may be divided by a cross-partition 16, inserted at any point in the length of the tank and adapted to make a fluid-tight joint with the bottomand sides thereof, as indicated in Fig. 3, such partition constituting a dam to confine the fluid at one end in case it is only desired to develop a few plates at one time, using a correspondingly-reduced amount of fluid.

The device just described is the simplest form of the invention and is well adapted to the operation of what is known as stand or tank development. If it is desired to utilize the introducing features of the invention in combination with a developing apparatus of any other type or form, the adjustable slides may be readily incorporated with such an apparatus, and in Fig. 6 I have shown the slides 7 8 with the shells 12 and 13 mounted upon the upper portion of a developing apparatus similar to that shown and described in my prior patent for developing apparatus for photographic plates, No. 7424,376. In this type of apparatus the plate is received between arms 29, adjustably mounted on a suitable manipulating-shaft or other device and arranged to be lowered into a developing fluid at the bottom of the tank and raised from time to time within the range of non-actinic observation-Windows 17 18 to judge of the progress of the developing operation.

The advantages of my invention will be readily appreciated by all those accustomed to the use of cameras or the development of photographic plates. It is extremely simple in construction, efficient in operation, capable of containing a large number of plates, and is particularly adapted to use with envelop-inclosed plates, which avoid the necessity of retaining the plates in the plate-holder.

The device is applicable to any-size plates and will be found to be very convenient for the purpose of safely storing them and for immediate development.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction by the skilled mechanic; but" all such are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is 1. A developing apparatus consisting of a tank provided with means for receiving a photographic plate from a surrounding lightproof envelop, and means cooperating with the plate and envelop adapted to exclude the light from the interior of the tank.

2. A developing apparatus consisting of a tank provided with means for receiving a photographic plate from a surrounding lightproof envelop, with means for excluding the light from the interior of the tank, substantially as set forth.

3. A develo 'Jing apparatus consisting of a tank provided with a movable slide having an insertion-opening, and a plate-receiving shell surrounding and projecting beyond said opening substantially as set forth.

4:. A developing apparatus consisting of a tank provided with overlapping movable slides, one of said slides having an insertionopening, and a plate-receiving shell surrounding said opening, substantially as set forth.

A developingapparatus for photographic plates consisting of a fluid-containing tank, overlappingslides mounted in the top thereof, means for excluding the light from the interior of the tank, and means incorporated with one of the slides adapted to receive an envelop-protected plate, substantially as set forth.

6. A developing apparatus for photographic plates consisting of a tank having vertical plate receiving ways, overlapping slides mounted in the top of the tank, means providing light-proof bearings for said slides, and an inner and an outer shell mounted on one of said slides, said inner shell providing an entering-opening through the slide, substantially as set forth.

I n testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JESSE D. LYON. i Vitnesses:

J AMES M00. l\lILLER, C. M. CLARKE. 

